CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

 Conditional sentences are sentences expressing factual implications, or hypothetical

situations and their consequences. We will study the use of following words:-
1. If
2. As if
3. Even if
4. Even though
5. Unless
6. Whether
7. But for
8. Otherwise
9. Provided
10. Suppose
11. In case
12. If only
13. As long

USE OF ‘IF’:-

 There are three important ideas which can be expressed by ‘if’. Such sentences contain two
parts: the main clause and the if clause. Each clause contains different tenses, though there are
some possible variations of tenses in each clause, the students preparing for competitive
examinations should concentrate only on following three basic forms.

TYPE :-

1. Likely or probable.
2. Unlikely or improbable; imaginary.
3. Impossible.

1. Likely or probable :-
 This type of sentences implies that the action in the if-clause is quite probable and if the
condition is fulfilled, then the verb of main denotes that something will certainly take place. The
verb in the if-clause is used in present tense and the verb in the main clause is in the simple
suture. It does not make much difference which clause comes first, although the clause you
want to stress can be written first; as,
 If he works hard, he will succeed.
 He will succeed if he works hard.
 These are more common in speaking but in writing we should not use them:-
 If you are looking for some good books, you will find them in the library.
 If you have written the letter, I will post it.

 If he will invite me, I will attend the party. (Incorrect)

 If he invites me, I will attend the part. (Correct)

 It should be noted that in place of ‘will/shall’ or the future indefinite tense we can use May,
Might, Can, could, should, must.

 To express the possibility we use May or might

 If it rains, we may change our program

 To express permission we use May and to express ability we use can.

 If your work is complete, you may/can go. (Permission)
 If he practises everyday, he can win the match. (Ability)

 We can use Must, should or a word which expresses Command, Request, advice.
 If you want to succeed, you should/ must work hard.
 If you want to be healthy, you must take exercise regularly.

 When we are talking about habitual action or automatic action then we can use present
indefinite tense even if in the main clause.
 If you heat water, it will turn into vapours.

If- Clause Main Clause

Can
May
Might
If + Present Indefinite tense Subj + Must + 1 st form of verb
Should
Shall
Will
TYPE 2 – UNLIKELY OR IMPOSSIBLE; IMAGINARY

 This type of sentence implies the probable results of a certain condition that we suppose or
imagine. Though the action of if-clause is not taking place at this moment, we just imagine the
probable results. If-Clause is not a true past, it indicates unreality or improbability.

1. If he invited me, I would attend the party.

2. If I were an orange, I would be sweet and juicy.
3. If I had wings, I would fly in the sky.

 It is to be noted that in the if-clause we use Past Tense and in the main clause we use Present
Conditional Tense. In the if clause the verb is subjunctive. Subjunctive means a special form of
the verb that expresses a wish, Possibility, Condition etc.
 If I were to meet her, I would recognize her at once.
 In this sentence the verb were is in subjunctive mood. This verb is in past but it still gives the
sense of present. So it is clear from the above sentences that if the if-clause has an ‘Action-verb’
then we use its past form and if it has the verb to-be then we always use were whether the
subject is singular or plural.
 If I were the king.
 If she were here.
 If there is possessive verb in the if-clause then we use ‘had’.

IF Past Tense Present Conditional Tense

2nd form of verb Would

subject + were + Object + had Could
Might
IF Subj + Must + 1 st form of verb
Should

 If I were a rat, the cat would eat me.

OR
 The cat would eat me, if I were a rat.
 If I had wings, I could fly.
  OR
 I could fly if I had wings.
 If she invited me, I would attend the party.
 I would attend the party if she invited me.

TYPE 3:- Impossible

 This type of sentence implies that the action in the if-clause did not happen, this is in the past
and condition cannot be fulfilled, hence the probable result of the main clause is quite
impossible. The verb in the main clause is in the Perfect Conditional.
 If Reeta had invited me, I would have attended the party.
 If I had appeared in the exam, I would have passed.

IF Past Tense Present Conditional Tense

Would
rd
subject +Had + 3 form Could
Might
IF Subj + Must + have + 3 rd form
of verb
Should

 If he has taken a taxi, he would not have missed the train. (Incorrect)
 If he had taken a taxi, he would not have missed the train. (Correct)
 I would have attended the party if she would have invited me. (Incorrect)
 I would have attended the party if she had invited me. (Correct)

 If you come late, the manager will not permit you.

 If you come late, the manager would not permit you.
 If you had come late, the manager would have permitted you.
 If she follows me, she may succeed.
 If she followed me, she might succeed.
 If she had followed me, she might have succeeded.
 If he does as I advise him, he will be selected.
 If he did as I advised him, he would be selected.
 If he had done as I advised him, he would have been selected.
INVERSION OS SUBJECT AND AUXILIARY:-

 Here, we can remove if from the if clause and we can use the auxiliary verb just before the
subject and the sentence would still be same.
 If I were a king = were I a king.
 If I had come here = Had I come here.
 Had he informed the police, the situation would not have worsened.

USE OF SOME OTHER IMPORTANT CONDITIONALS:-

UNLESS:-

 ‘Unless’ has got a negative sense and it means ‘if not’. Hence a negative sentence should not be
used in ‘Unless-clause”; as,
 She will not learn much if she does not work hard.
 She will not learn much unless she works hard.
 Both the above sentences convey the same meaning.

Unless + Affirmative verb = If + Negative verb.

BUT FOR:-

 If it were not for’/ If it had not been for’

 You helped me. But for your help it would not have been possible.
 But for your cooperation and blessings, this work would not have been completed.

EVEN IF/ EVEN THOUGH:-

 They both mean in spite of the fact that; no matter whether.

 You should go there if it does not rain.
 You should go there even if it rains.
 You should go there if you are ready.
 You should go there even if you are not ready.

PROVIDED (THAT) :-
  If can be replaced by ‘provided’ when there is a strong idea of limitation or restriction. It is
generally used with permission and it means ‘on the condition that’ As;
 You can stay here provided you promise to live peacefully.
 I am ready to resign providing I am paid two month’s salary. (Incorrect)
 I am ready to resign provided I am paid two month’s salary. (Correct)

 We should never use provided and if both in a single sentence.

IF AND IN CASE:-

 ‘IF AND IN CASE’ both are different conditional conjunctions. ‘If- clause’ denotes a condition and
‘in case-clause’ gives a reason for the action in the main clause. ‘In case’ is followed by a present
or past tense or by should. This clause is normally placed after the main clause. As;
 All motorists carry spare wheel in case they have a puncture = All motorists carry a spare wheel
because they may have because there is possibility of puncture.
 In case of + Noun = If there is a/an +Noun
 In case of fire, call 101.
 In case if there is a fire, phone 101. (Incorrect)
 If and in case can never be used simultaneously in same sentence.

AS IF / AS THOUGH:-

1. Present Tense + As if + Past Indefinite Tense

2. Past Tense + As if + Past Perfect Tense.

 He talks as if he were mad.

 He talked as if he had been mad.